Lesson 17 of 84 · Engineering and Design
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🛠️ Engineer ShopPeer Review in Science
Engineering and Design.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
Constraints make you more creative, not less.
Mind = Blown
🌉 The Eiffel Tower can grow 6 inches taller in summer because metal expands when hot.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you test: how many tries until it works?
What You'll Learn
Peer review is how scientists check each other's work. Before research is published, other experts evaluate the methods, data, and conclusions to ensure they are valid.
Key Words
- constraint
- criteria
- test
Materials Needed
- paper clips
- rubber bands
- string
- cups
- aluminum foil
Safety First
- Handle glass items carefully to avoid breakage.
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Design and build a bridge from newspaper and tape that can hold a textbook. Test it and redesign to make it stronger.
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What is a prototype?
Where you see this in real life
Every bridge, building, and gadget you've ever used started with this.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Find something that's broken at home and try to figure out *why* it broke.
For the dinner table
“What's something around the house you'd redesign — and how?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Checkout complete lesson on Engineering and Design for 4th Grade
Get the full Engineering and Design track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.